FAITHWRITERS NEWLETTERFaithWriters.com news and information for the write-brained Christian!

"You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." – Psalm 118:28, 29 (NIV)This month, the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving. But no matter where we live, the above verse is for all of us, all the time. No matter how bleak our circumstances, there is always something to be thankful for. Health…family…friends…church…a warm bed…creation…salvation…

The Bible instructs us to give thanks to God. Don't save your thanksgiving for Turkey Day. Take some time each day to thank God for everything He's done in your life. Start making a list. Chances are you'll discover you have even more to be thankful for than you thought.Be sure to scroll down and read the answers to this month's Out of the Mouths of FaithWriters question. Read how God has blessed your fellow FaithWriters members over the past year.

WEEKLY WRITING CHALLENGE

Feeling blue? Have you ever been green with envy? Do the colors of God's creation leave you breathless and amazed? Then this quarter's Weekly Writing Challenge is for you! Colorful topics abound.

Never entered The Challenge before? You're missing out! The Challenge is a great way to stretch yourself as a writer, gain valuable feedback on your work, and also gives you a chance to encourage other writers, as well. Not to mention The Challenge provides a potential opportunity for you to be published in the FaithWriters quarterly anthologies and even the possibility to take home some cold hard cash!

If you're interested in growing as a writer and having lots of fun in the process, enter The Writing Challenge today! Complete details and guidelines can be found here:

As you're probably aware by now, the FaithWriters general membership continues to climb but the 500 membership continues to dwindle. This is not good news for the FaithWriters community. If we do not maintain a certain level of financial support, the unfortunate fact is that we will not be able to function at all and will be either forced to shut down entirely or will need to charge everyone to be a part of the site.

We do not want it to come to that. In fact, we want nothing more than to be able to bring you even more benefits, perks and helpful resources and tools that will help you become a better writer. Unfortunately, we can't add more features until we have the finances to pay for them.

That's where you come in! We truly appreciate anything you can do to help. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us in one of the following ways:

With your prayers and financial support, we can keep FaithWriters alive and growing.

NEED PRAYER?

There is nothing quite like the power of prayer. And as Jesus says in Matthew 18:20, "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there." Well, there are certainly more than two or three that gather regularly in the Prayer Forum. There are many FaithWriters members who would love to pray with you and for you. Visit the Prayer Request forum to post your need or a specific call for prayer and also to grab hold of a few requests made by other members and pray for them, too.

Last month's question garnered more responses than any other question so far! Which is a good thing because it means that a great number of you are feeling especially blessed these days and aren't hesitating to shout it to the world. I wish I could post every single one of these awesome praise reports. Unfortunately, I can't. But I suggest popping over to the Message Boards to share your greatest blessings. I have started a thread there especially for you! Let's fill up that forum with thanksgiving for all that God has done for us this year. http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=4

Here is the question I posed in last month's newsletter:

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST BLESSING SO FAR IN 2009?

And here are just a few of the many answers from your fellow FaithWriters members.

"In March, the most beautiful man of God I know asked me to be his wife. No decision has ever been easier; we are getting married in June of next year! – Samantha Reilly

"I would say the outpouring of prayer and support I have experienced as I battle breast cancer. It has shown me the goodness in people's hearts as a reflection of God's love." – Kathy Bruins

"This was my year for dreams to come true! My first three grandbabies were born, Highlights for Children bought one of my articles, and I was able to meet many, many of my writer friends at the FW conference." – Yvonne Blake (Vonnie)

"The best thing that has happened in my life this year is seeing my 2 1/2 year old grandson, Tyler, start to develop a spiritual awareness of the reality of the love of Jesus." – Lisa Johnson

"My greatest blessing so far for 2009 is my husband's sobriety. After a year of the painful to watch downward spiral of alcoholism, my husband has not had an alcoholic drink since 6/16.

We are both out of work, his due to the alcohol, mine due to economic measures, but his not drinking is an answered prayer. I will take that blessing any day!" – Dimple Suit

"My greatest blessing for 2009 has been joining Faithwriters!!! I have become familiar with the work of some of the writers, and I have been truly blessed by what I have read. I am also gaining experience with my writing and the feedback and critiques I have received has been wonderful. Thank You." – Jennifer Alexander